[lazy jupiter]

Hello! Computer was running slow so it was decided to reboot it. When the system is left to boot normally, it will display the message "Reboot and select proper boot device or insert boot media in selected boot device and press a key"

F9 system repair will display the same message.

The owner did not have the Windows 7 installation CD, so I torrented an iso with a start up repair only and put it into a bootable USB. The first time I booted from the usb it worked okay, I just selected start up repair and it orders me to restart. The computer will still not boot and whenever I try to boot the usb again it gives me the Windows boot manager telling me that Windows failed to start.

Status: 0xc0000098
Info: the Windows boot configuration data file does not contain a valid os entry

Any help greatly appreciated.

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Try this answer. Here's another one.

Edited by Sub, 28 October 2013 - 02:50 PM.

[Sub]

Try this answer. Here's another one.

Edited by Sub, 28 October 2013 - 02:50 PM.

[lazy jupiter]

Thank you for replying. I'm reading the link but all the suggestions just lead to the "reboot and select proper boot device"

Whenever I try the start up repair it goes into 0xc0000098

I'm going to try finding or making another start up repair disk but I still don't understand why it stopped working in the first place.

[lazy jupiter]

Ill try what that second link suggests. Will post results. Thanks for more, man

[Sub]

Your OS is corrupt and need to repair. If you can boot it again using your USB that's fine. Once you open it go to Start/Accessories/System Tools/System Restore, then follow the instruction.

[lazy jupiter]

So I went down the list of possible problems from the windows website. I ran mini tool recovery partition wizard and it is showing my HD where the OS is as a bad disk with a status of lost/deleted. The wizard doesn't give me any more options after it ends the full scan.

All other options are grayed out. What do you suggest I do?

[Ztruker]

If you do not have a Windows 7 installation DVD, or it's not up to the Service Pack level currently installed, you can download a legal copy with SP1 integrated from here:

Windows 7 Direct Download Links

Make sure you get the same version you have, Home Premium, Pro or Ultimate and 32 or 64 bit. Note that Basic or Starter is not available.

I recommend using ImgBurn at 4X speed (or the slowest available) to create the DVD from the downloaded .iso file. Just be careful during the install not to accidentally install some of the bundled junk that comes with it. Always take The Custom Install option.

You can do this on any computer capable of burning a DVD.

YOU MUST HAVE A VALID KEY TO INSTALL THIS .ISO. The one on the COA sticker on your computer will work.

You can also create a bootable USB Flash drive (4GB or larger) to install Windows 7 from.

• Download and run Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3
• Select Windows 7 from the first drop down list, all the way to the bottom
• Select the downloaded Windows 7 iso file
• Select your USB flash drive
• Click Create

For techies or folks who work on computers: Create Windows 7 Universal ISO With All Editions Selection On Install with ei.cfg Removal Utility.
This will fit on a 6GB flash drive or can be burned to a DVD.

[lazy jupiter]

Is it possible to do a Windows reinstall without damaging the files already in it? Or am I to expect a full wipe?

Thank you for the link, I'll get to downloading that and putting it on a disk for now.

[Ztruker]

Yes, do a repair install:

Backup data you don;'t want to lose first though, stuff happens.

[lazy jupiter]

I have a feeling you did not fully read my previous posts.

The entire disk is bad. All postings are marked as lost or deleted. I'm running a partition recovery program trying to get them back but it is not looking good. What would you do in my situation if you wanted to try to salvage your HD?